Fibromyalgia: Would you recognise these lesser-known symptoms?

FIBROMYALGIA is a chronic pain condition that could affect up to two million people in the UK. Besides widespread pain, there are many other warning signs to look out for.

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The main symptom of fibromyalgia is widespread pain throughout the body.

Sufferers usually ache all over, and the pain can be dull and deep or sharp and throbbing.

But there are many other signs, aside from pain, that may signal the chronic condition.

Most of these are quite broad, which often means it can be difficult to diagnose fibromyalgia.Symptoms vary from sleeping problems to painful menstrual cramps to depression. These are the seven most common symptoms of fibromyal

Extreme tiredness

Patients with fibromyalgia often feel exhausted when they should feel rested, such as after a good night’s sleep, according to medical website WebMD.

Simple tasks such as shopping or cooking often make them very tired, and they may feel too exhausted to exercise or go about their normal lives.

Memory problems

People diagnosed with fibromyalgia can have issues with concentration and short-term memory.

Occasionally this can lead to an incorrect diagnosis of dementia, as sufferers might have trouble following a conversation or remembering where they have put their keys.

Irritable bowel syndrome

The stomach pain and bloating caused by IBS is often suffered by fibromyalgia patients.

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In fact, WebMD states that about two-thirds of people with the condition have bloating, gas and pain, along with either constipation and diarrhoea.

Painful menstrual cramps

Most women with fibromyalgia also suffer from painful menstrual cramps.

They are also likely to become more sensitive to pain during their menstrual cycle.

Depression or anxiety

WebMD notes that up to half of all people with fibromyalgia also have depression or an anxiety disorder.

It is unclear whether the wide-ranging and painful symptoms can cause the depression, or if depression and anxiety are actually part of the disease.

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Besides pain, another common symptom of fibromyalgia is tingling in the body

Tingling in hands and feet

A common complaint among fibromyalgia sufferers is tingling in hands, arms, feet and legs, known as paresthesia.

There doesn’t seem to be a pattern among patients – for some, they may last a minute or two, but for others, they may be constant.

Sleep problems

Most patients have trouble sleeping, with sleep usually light, making them easily disturbed.

WebMD notes that tests done on sufferers show that they are constantly interrupted by bursts of brain activity, similar to what happens when they’re awake. This affects the length of their deep sleep, leaving them feeling run down.